Question

Why is Carbon important?

Answer 1

Answer:

Carbon is an important constituent of living beings. Along with Nitrogen and oxygen, carbon is one of the essential building blocks of organic life. Carbon forms about 18% of the human body. By organic here I want to stress the fact that it includes every living thing in the world including substances that are produced by living beings. Organic Chemistry, which deals with the study of carbon compounds is a vast repository of information on such compounds. Carbon is integral because of its unique ability to form four different bonds with other elements. This makes it possible for carbon to react with many other elements and form a vast array of compounds.

Hydrocarbons which again is primarily a compound of hydrogen and carbon are the source of all our fossil fuels. ( Fossil Fuels as these fuels are literally formed by fossilized organic matter)

CO2 which again is a carbon compound is responsible for keeping our earth warm and habitable by aiding the greenhouse effect. There are many other such compounds of carbon that are very useful to the earth and living beings.

To conclude carbon in itself is not as essential as its ability to form numerous compounds that are essential for life to exist.

Explanation:

Hope this helps